Lava and snow: when extremes meet
The particularly low temperatures at the beginning of February 2023 and intense precipitation on 9 and 10 February 2023 transformed Etna into an idyllic winter landscape with snowdrifts that were four metres high in places and posed considerable challenges for some mountain huts. If you visit Etna in winter, especially its snowier northern side, you […]
The feast of St Agatha in Catania
On the first weekend in February, from 3 to 5 February 2024, the whole of Catania will once again be in a state of emergency: for three days, one of the biggest religious festivals in the world will be celebrated. The feast of St Agatha in Catania attracts millions of people who flood the streets […]
Accidents on Mount Etna
To mark the occasion, here is another article on the topic of “How dangerous is Mount Etna?” – but this time not primarily with reference to volcanic eruptions, falling rocks, lava flows and sulphur mist. It’s about solo endeavours, misguided adventurers, tragic-mysterious deaths; about people who had tragic accidents on Mount Etna. A night in […]
How dangerous is Etna?
It is a mighty phenomenon. At around 3347 metres, it is the highest and most active volcano in Europe. It is constantly active, erupting almost every year. And yet it is densely populated: Catania, with over 300,000 inhabitants, lies at its feet, and countless villages stretch up its slopes. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock […]
Etna in Autumn: Colors, Flavors and Breathtaking Experiences on the Volcano
Etna in Autumn: Nature and Colors Transforming the Volcano Mount Etna is worth visiting in every season, but in autumn it reveals a particularly magical and colorful charm. The forests are painted in shades of red, orange, and gold, creating a stunning contrast with the black volcanic rock.On the northern slopes, lunar landscapes blend with […]
Lucky charms in Sicily & other fascinating symbols
They are often regarded as lucky charms in Sicily, but are also a nice souvenir from your holiday. Testa di moro (Moorish heads) Whether as a flower pot or just for decoration, in Sicily you often find two ceramic vessels in the shape of two heads: a man with a beard or moustache and a […]
Helicopter flight over Etna: simply breathtaking!
A personal report A sightseeing flight over a volcano, by helicopter over summit craters and lava flows. This has always been my dream and now I have fulfilled it for myself – and my family: a helicopter flight over Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe, with EtnaWay. Our tour starts early in the morning. […]
Etna North – The 2002 Craters
A personal report Today we are doing the North Craters Tour with EtnaWay, a tour to the craters from 2002. Meeting point is at 9am in Piano Provenzana on the north side of Etna. Our guide from EtnaWay is already waiting for us at the car park. We meet the others from the group and […]
The right equipment on Etna
Many people, including visitors who come from the Alps and often go hiking, underestimate Etna and the weather conditions. Even though Etna is very far south, it can be very cold. Also, the weather often changes very quickly because Etna is a single free-standing mountain and is not within a mountain range. We would therefore […]
The chestnuts of Mount Etna
On the eastern side of Etna (from the north-east to the south-east) there are – due to the special climate – large occurrences of sweet chestnuts (Castanea sativa). The chestnuts of Mount Etna are edible, but are not commercially grown or collected, as most of them grow in the Etna Park and are therefore protected. […]